Hans-Dieter Flick

[Joan]

In league games this season, Barcelona has conceded as many goals as Real Madrid (25).

This is an interesting stat. With our high line, you would expect us to concede significantly more than them.

On top of that - although it's different leagues and a little hard to compare it should be noted we also conceded less than Liverpool (26) and same as Inter (25), both considered pretty reliable defences and hard to get through.

Now I'm not trying to portray our defence as solid and claim it is on level of these teams but this just further solidifies my belief that Flick's high line is easier to exploit in theory than it is in practice.

Our defense also looks solid in terms of xGA. Which surprised me. Bear in mind that it happened in spite of our risk taking strategy. Goes to show that breaking Flick’s high line hasn’t been as easy as made out. But that can always change, of course.

 

[jamrock]

Good points.

The issue with flick is more than he doesn't know how to adjust late in the game when his team has a 1 or 2 goal advantage.

Liverpool and inter will shut it down or control possession.

Flick will keep going for another goal, and leave the team exposed.

 

[JamDav1982]

Barca have 4 clean sheets in last 5 league games and have not been going hell for leather in those games when 1-0 up v Las Palmas, Alaves etc.

Ateltico you could see players like FDJ and Pedri telling the players to calm down when were flailing arms about not getting ball early every time. That is not them just deciding to try and slow game down for no reason that is the control Flick is asking of them.

The Ateltico game was not some collapse as pouring forward either it was because the players he brought on to front 4 were barely keeping the ball and it allowed Atletico to push higher up and take more risk.

Barca got worse v Atletico when the attack got worse and failed to control game then defence made errors under more pressure. If they continue to attack well and pose a threat that likely does not happen.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

@Messigician Im waiting the table of the last 7-8 matches 🤫🤫🤫